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SOUTH LEBANON – The key to the Cedar Crest baseball team’s success this season was consistency. But when it came time for them to take it to the next level, to eleveate their game, the Falcons spun their wheels.

On a warm Thursday evening at Cedar Crest High School, the Falcons’ break-through season came tumbling down, in the form of a 9-0 loss to Governor Mifflin in the quarterfinal round of the District Three Class AAAAAA playoffs. Cedar Crest managed just four safeties, never had more than one hit in any inning and advanced a runner as far as third base only once.

Cedar Crest’s memorable season concluded at 16-7 overall. Earlier this spring, the Falcons were crowned champions of Section One of the Lancaster-Lebanon League for the first time in seven years.

But the second-seeded Falcons ended the season by dropping four of their last six contests. Cedar Crest did not score a run over its last 15 innings of the season, all of which came in the playoffs.

With the win, Governor Mifflin, the seventh-seed, advanced to 13-9 on the year and into Tuesday’s semifinals of the District Three tournament.

“I said nothing about the game at all,” said Cedar Crest head coach Josh Brown of the post-game address to his troops. “It is what it is. We reflected on what our seniors did this year and how they chnaged the culture of Cedar Crest baseball. You’ve got to focus on the positives. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have it today.

“It’s all the emotions,” continued Brown. “It’s disappointment. We didn’t play to our capabilities. I’m not disappointed in them (his players) or the way we got ourselves here.”

Cedar Crest senior ace Chad Ryland matched Governor Mifflin starter Tristan Kochel pitch for pitch, goose egg for goose egg for three innings, until the Mustangs broke a scoreless tie with a single tally in the top of the fourth. Trevor Woolwine walked and moved to second on a wild pitch, ahead of Justin DelVecchio’s RBI-single that gave Governor Mifflin a 1-0 lead.

“Chad threw four good innings,” said Brown. “Then that last one they kind of got to him. Chad had a great season for us. He was 6-2 coming in and a (Lancaster-Lebanon League) Section One all-star.

“We haven’t been squaring the ball up the last few games,” Brown continued. “Our pitching has been there consistently. At this level, you’ve got square up baseballs.”

Kochel retired the Falcons in order only once, in the fifth. But Cedar Crest experienced difficulties bunching base runners and sustaining offense against him.

The only time Cedar Crest did get a runner to third base was in the bottom of the first, but he was cut down at the plate trying to score on an apparent wild pitch. Senior first baseman Joseph Carpenter collected three of the Falcons’ four hits.

Kochel got the win by going the distance, striking out none and walking two.

“I didn’t see much from him,” said Brown of Kochel. “We didn’t hit the ball. I think they (his players) could’ve put too much pressure on themselves.

“We’ve got to hit the baseball,” added Brown. “We can’t get behind in the count. We didn’t square up the baseball.”

Governor Mifflin turned a tight game into a comfortable lead by plating five runs, after two outs had been recorded in the top of the fifth inning. The Mustangs loaded the bases with nobody out, on singles from Jacob Gelvin and Mike Franks, and a walk to Isiah Livingston.

Isaac Ruoss and T. Kochel drove home Governor Mifflin runs, while Joe Adametz came through with the big blow for the Mustangs, a two-run single.

“It is a little disappointing,” said Brown. “We haven’t been here in seven years. Our senior leadership has really been great. Them having to take over with the leadership has been key. It’s tough coming in here, wanting it so bad. With today’s game, who wouldn’t be disappointed? But it’s reality.”

“With the way we plaeyd ball this year, we are the number-two seed,” Brown added. “We did the right things. When we won Section One, there was a lot of pressure taken off our shoulders.”

The Mustangs broke the game wide open with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Woolwine, Ruoss and DelVecchio started it with back-to-back-to-back doubles to open the frame, while Adametz added an RBI-single.

“It was good,” said Brown of the eight-game layoff his club was coming off of. “We scrimmaged on Monday and all of our pitchers got bullpen sessions in. I was really geared up and feeling positive.”

Ryland was lifted in favor of releiver Dan Mancil, with two outs in the fifth inning. During his time on the bump, Ryland fanned one and walked four.

“They’ve seen the leadership,” said Brown of his underclassmen. “They’ve seen the culture change. We should’ve beaten that team. We’re a better team.

“Our junior class is strong,” continued Brown. “Our sophomore class is strong. Our freshman class is strong. You have to learn from every game. You have to learn from your losses. You have to learn from your wins. This is the way we want to play each and every year. I thought the kids were fully prepared coming in.”

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